Hell's Getting Chilly

What a remarkable two days it has been for Chicago White Sox fans.

First, Jay Mariotti, leading shouter at Sun-Times sports, resigned within hours of returning from his Bright One-sponsored visit to China. Word on the street is that the Mighty Mullet got no closer than a rickshaw to actual sporting competitions while overseas--a masterful feat given that dozens were held daily. (In Chicago, Jay merely must avoid one, at most two, active clubhouses per day in order to "take the pulse" of the Chicago sports scene.)

Today, arguably an even greater miracle occurred: unprompted praise of the White Sox, at the expense of the Cubbies, by Tribune "baseball expert" Phil Rogers.

You can read the article (White Sox are Cubs' Worst Nightmare) yourself, as we don't much enjoy a you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours arrangement with the Tribune. But this bit of honest analysis made for a stunning read this morning.

Mariotti resigns. Dr. Phil praises the Sox.

Due tomorrow: Minnie Minoso buys the Cubbies.

--Brett Ballantini

Today's Lesson: Sincerity

As much as there is to applaud over Rick Morrissey turning his Friday column about Steve Bartman being entitled to "sincere apologies" for all the abuse he has suffered in the past four-plus years into a detailed diatribe against the Sun-Times' little engine that could, Jay Mariotti, one thing seems awfully disingenuous about Moose's attack.

Forget the juxtaposition of mercy for Bartman/gallows for Mariotti. No, it's simply the irony of chiding the Blue Jay for mentioning Bartman in a column every two and a half weeks in a column about...Steve Bartman.

The column, of course, tugged at the heartstrings on the level of Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times, who routinely wins national column-writing awards despite offering all the poetry and insight of an old Comiskey Park brick.

However it serves you on a slow news day, eh, Rick?

--Brett Ballantini